Stacking radio tube socket



June 2l, 1960 w. GLUcK 2,942,230

STACKING RADIO TUBE SOCKET Filed June 5, 195'? 46, /A/ VEA/70p.

w/ 66.4 6.6.5 5y z /A/V/ u/CA/ ,4 fr0/@Mfrs v 2,942,230` srAcKrNG RADIOrUE'socKEr William Gluck, Yonkers, N.Y., ,assignor to Industrialgleclronic Hardware Corp., a corporation ofNew Filed June s, 1957, ser.No. 663,352 12 claims. (ci. 339-194) This invention relates to thefemale half of multipin connectors, especially radio tube sockets, andmore par. ticularly stacking sockets for printed circuits.

In my copending application Serial No. 579,664, tiled April 20, 1956,and entitled Mechanized Insertion of Radio Tube Sockets, I disclose asocket which improves the handling, storage and shipment of sockets byavoiding tangling together of the sockets. It also avoids the need forhoppering of sockets when arranging for the mechanized insertion ofthesame. For this purpose, the sockets may be disposed in superposedrelation to form a stack of sockets, with the sockets held together witha snap engagement.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improvesockets of the specified character. -A more specific object is toimprove the stacking action by making the interlocking or snapengagement of the sockets much more secure. Y

' To accomplish the foregoing general object, and other morespeciiicobjects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides inthe vsocket elements and their relation one to another as arehereinafter more particularly described in the following specification.The specication is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 represents and partially shows a short length of stacked sockets;v Y

Fig. 2 is a plan View of` either the stack or a single socket;

- Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately in the plane of theline 3 3 ofFig. 2, showing the relation of any two of the stacked sockets;

Fig. 4 is a partially sectioned elevation of an improve center groundpost embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same;

f Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section drawn to enlarged scale to show theinterlocking engagement of the center ground posts; -Y Y Fig. 7 is aside elevation of one of the contact posts; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken in the plane of theline 8-8 of Fig. 5.

. The invention is a socket of a type which may be formedinto aconnected series of sockets which may be handled as a stick. A piece ofsuch a stick of sockets is shown in Fig. l ofthe drawing, it comprisingsuperposed sockets 12, 14, 16, l'and 20. Referring to Fig. 3, eachsocketV comprises an insulation body 22, 2.4 carrying a ring of contacts26, and a shield or center ground post 30. Each of the contacts 26 has apin grip portion 32, and a terminal portion 34. The center ground post30 is hollow, it being rolled up out of sheet metal, as is best shown inFigs. 4 and 5, with a longitudinal slit at 36 where the edges ofthesheet metal blank abut. These edges are not secured together.

In'accordance with the present invention, the periphery of the lower endof the post is reversely folded outward and upward, as shown at 38 inFigs. 4 and 5, to form a rigid annular step or shoulder 40. The upperportion of the post is transversely indented at opposite sides, as shownat 42. The lower end 38, 40 is so dimensioned ice as to be received witha snap` tin the upper end of a similar center ground postA between theindentations 42, as is best shown in Fig. 6. The post 3@ has a part 44of reduced diameter which is dimensioned to be slidably receivedwithinthe upper end of a like post as shown in Fig. 6. Below the part44, the post is still further reduced in diameter, as shown at 46, andat this point, the diameter is less than the spacing between theindentations 42.

. sleeve type. The terminal 34 is a hollow post which acts The seam 36is closed or abutting at the lower end of the post, as will be seen at48 in Fig. 4. This fact, taken together with the reverse fold of metalat 38, causes the lower end of the post to be quite rigid and fixed indimension. When the parts are pushed into snap engagement the yieldtakes place at the indentations 42, which spread apart. The spread isaided by the slit 36 which may open a bit to accommodate. the passage ofthe part 38. Y Considering the socket in greater detail, in the presentcase the insulation body is made up of upper and lower wafers 22, 24 ofsheet insulation. The particular socket shown is intended to receive aminiature radio tube having seven pins at the spacing of eight, as willbe seen by inspection of Fig. 2. However, it will be understood thatidentically the same construction is applicable to a socket having ninepins at the spacing of ten, as is needed for certain miniature tubes.

The metal contacts 26 may be of the type disclosed in my copendingapplication Serial Number 579,664 aforesaid. Each contact is made of asingle piece of sheet metal, and comprises a pins grip 32 which is ofthe split also as a support post for the socket when it is inserted in amating ring of holes in a printed circuit board. The pin grip 32 andpost 34 are connected by a bridge Si?. The wafers 22 and 24 each have acenter hole and two concentric circles of holes. The pin grips 32 passthrough the inner holes of lower wafer 24, and the posts34 pass throughthe outer holes, while the bridges 50 overlie the wafer. The contactsare held in position by the upper wafer 22, which is secured to thelower wafer by means of the upper end of the center post 3G, which actsalso as an eyelet. The pin grips are additionally supported by tabs 52,and in similar fashion the posts 34 are additionally supported by tabs54.

The inner holes in the upper wafer 22 receive the pins of the radiotube, and permit their passage into the pin grips 32. The outer holeswould not be needed in the upper wafer 22, except to `assist in thestacking action by receiving the lower ends of the posts of asuperjacent socket, as is shown. in Fig. 3. In other words, the lengthof the center post 30 is so related to the length of the contact posts34 that the lower ends of the contact postsv the eyeletting together ofthe wafers 22 and 24. In as-4 sembling the socket, the post 30 isinserted through the wafers as far as the bead 60, and the upper end 62of the post is expanded or anged outward and downwardby means of asuitable die, as is indicated at 64 in Figs. 3 and 6, thereby lockingthe wafers together.

Referring to Fig. 7 of the drawing, the contact posts` 34 are hollow andgenerally cylindrical, for stiffness. The4 lower end of the contact postis pointed or rounded, as indicated at 66, and the lower portion of thepost is longitudinally slotted at diametrically opposite sides as shownat 68, so as to be resiliently compressible. There are beads orenlargements at 70 and 72, the former to act as a stop when insertingthe socket in a printed circuitboard, and the latter to provide a snapengagement with Patented .inne 21 296@ the board, thus holding`the-socket in position until the soldering operation is completed.

Fig. 7 also illustrates how the rounded lower end 66 of contact post 34is received in a mating hole in upper lamination 22 of a subjacentsocket.

The indentation 42 may been a straight line, as though indented with achisel having a straight edge, but it is preferably on two angularlydisposed lines, as lisbest shown in Fig. 8. In that gure, it will beseen that the parts41 and 43 of the indentation #l2v are` disposed atan-angle, which in the present case is 120 degrees. The result is thatthe lower end of the next higherl center post is engaged at four points,instead of at two.l

It will be understood that while I have-illustrated my improvement asapplied to a laminated socket, itis equally well applicable yto, asocket having a molded one-piece insulation body of the type disclosedin my copending application Serial No. 666,916, iled lune 20, 195,7, andentitled Socket for Radio Tubes or the Like.

It is believed that the construction and method of use but is aided bythe longitudinal slit of the post, and be-V tween thern an adequatelystiff yet yielding motion' Vis obtained.

It will. be apparent that while l havel shown and described rnyinvention in a preferred f orrn,v changes may be. made in the structureshown, without departingy from the Scope f the investigates Sought tobe, defadn the following claims.

l claim:

l. A radio tubeisocket comprising an insulation body carrying a ring ofmetal contacts, and a center ground post, each of said contactscomprising a pin grip portionv and a terminal portion, said centerground post being hollow, the periphery of the lower end of saidfpostbeing reversely folded outward and upward to provide a Vrigid annularstep. or shoulder, the upper portion of said Vprost being transverselyindented to provide indentations-at opposite s ides,the aforesaidreversely foldedlower end being so dimensioned as to be received in theyupper end ofja similar. center ground post of a subjacent sockethetween said indentations of said subjacent socket with a snap fit inorder to hold afseries of sockets' inV s ta,c :kecl

orsuperposed relation.

2. A radio tube socket comprising an insulation body carrying a ring ofmetalV contacts, and a center ground post, said contacts being disposedgenerally radially and having their inner ends on a smaller circle andtheir outer ends on a larger circle, each of said contacts being made ofa single piece of sheet metal and comprising a pin` grip at its innerend and a support-and-terminal Vpost at lts outer end with a connectingbridge therebetween,

said posts being substantially longer than the pin grips,I and beinghollow in cross section Vfor stiffness, the. lower ends of the postsbeing pointed andV longitudinally, slotted so as to be resilientlycompressible, the periphery of the lower end of said center postbeing-reversely folded outward and upward to provide a rigid annularstep or shoulder, the upper portion of said center post below saidinsulation body being transversely indented to provide indentations atopposite sides, the aforesaid reversely folded lower end being sodimensioned as to be receivedV in the upper end of asimilar centerground post of a subjacent socket between said indentations of saidsubjacent socket with a snap tit in order to hold a series of Sockets in.Stacked orsuperposed relation. Y i

3. A socket for printed circuits, said socket comprising. an insulationbody carrying a ring of metal contacts, said contacts being disposedgenerally radially and having y their inner ends on a smaller circle andtheir outer ends on a larger circle, each of said contacts being made ofa single piece of sheet metal, and comprising a sleeve type pin grip atits inner end anda support-and-terminal post at its outer end with aconecting bridge therebetween, said insulation body having, a center.hole and two concentric circles ,of holes, said piuk grips passingthrough said center post being reversely folded outward andv upward toprovide a rigid` annular step or shoulder, the. upper portion of saidcenter post being transversely indented to provide indentations atopposite sides, the aforesaid reversely folded lower end being sodimensioned4 as to be received in the upper end of a similar centerground post of a subjacent socket between said indentations ofv saidsubjacent socket with a snap fit in order to hold a-series of sockets instacked or superposed relation.

4. A socket for printed circuits, said socket comprising an insulationbody carrying a ring of metal contacts, said contacts being disposedgenerally radially and hav ing their inner ends on a smaller circle andtheir outer. ends on a larger circle, each of said contacts being madeof a single piece of sheet metal, and comprising a sleeve type pin gripat its inner end and a support-and-terminal post at its outer end with aconnecting bridge therebetween, said insulation body having a centerhole and two concentric circles of holes, said pin grips passing throughthe inner circle of holes and said posts passing throughthe outer circleof holes with the bridges therebetween, said posts beingV substantiallylonger than the pinogrips and being hollow in cross section forstillness, the lower ends of the posts being pointed and longitudinallyslotted so as to be resiliently compressible, and a longitudinally slitcenter ground post which is hollow and which is secured in the centerhole at its upper end, the periphery of,4 the lower end of said centerpost being reversely foldedoutward and upward to provide a rigid annularstep or shoulder, the upper portion of said center post below i saidinsulation body being transversely indented to provide indentations atoppositel sides at each side of the slit, the aforesaid reversely foldedlower end being so dimensioned as to be received in thel upper end of asirnilar center ground post of a subjacent socket between saidindentations of said subjacent socket with a snap lit order to hold aseries of sockets in stacked or superposed relation, the length of thecenter post being so related to the length of the contact posts that thelower ends of the contact posts are received in the corresponding holesof a subjacent socket whenY the lower end of the center post is receivedin the upper end of the center post of the subja. cent socket.

5.. A socket for printed circuits, said socket comprising an insulationlbody made-up of upper and lower wafers of sheet insulation, said bodycarrying a ring of metall contacts, said contacts being disposedgenerally radially and having their inner ends on a smaller circle andtheir outer ends on a larger circle, each of said con, tacts being madeof a single piece of sheet metal and comprising a sleeve type pin gripat its inner end and a support-and-terminal post at its outer end with aconnectving bridge. therebetween, said lower wafer having a center holeand two concentric circles of holes, said pin grips passing through theinner circle of holes and said posts passing through the outer circle ofholes with the bridges therebetween, said posts being substantiallylonger than the pin grips and being hollow in cross section forstiffness, the lower ends of the posts being pointed and longitudinallyslotted so as to be resiliently compressible, the upper wafer having acenter hole and concentric rings of holes in registration with theaforesaid holes in the lower wafer, and a center ground post which ishollow and which passes through the center holes at its upper end andserves to secure the wafers together, the periphery of the lower end ofsaid post being reversely folded outward and upward to provide a rigidannular step or shoulder, the upper portion of said post below saidinsulation body being transversely indented -to provide indentations atopposite sides, the aforesaid reversely folded lower end being sodimensioned as to be received in the upper end of a similar centerground post of a subjacent socket between said indentations of saidsubjacent socket with a snap iit in order to hold a series of sockets instacked or superposed relation.

6. A socket for printed circuits, said socket comprising an insulationbody made up of upper and lower wafers of sheet insulation, said bodycarrying a ring of metal contacts, said contacts being disposedgenerally radially and having their inner ends on a smaller circle andtheir outer ends on a larger circle, each of said contacts being made ofa single piece of sheet metal, and comprising a sleeve type pin grip atits inner end and a support-and-terminal post at its outer end with aconnecting bridge therebetween, said lower wafer having a center holeand two concentric circles of holes, said pin grips passing through theinner circle of holes and said posts passing through the outer circle ofholes with the bridges therebetween, said posts being substantiallylonger than the pin grips and being hollow in cross section forstilfness, the lower ends of the posts being pointed and longitudinallyslotted so as to be resiliently compressible, the upper wafer having acenter hole and concentric rings of holes in registration with theaforesaid holes in the lower wafer, and a longitudinally slit centerground post which is hollow and which passes through the center holes atits upper end and serves to secure the wafers together, the periphery ofthe lower end of said center post being reversely folded outward andupward to provide a rigid annular step or shoulder, the upper portion ofsaid center post below said insulation body being transversely indentedto provide indentations at diametrically opposite sides at each side ofthe slit, the aforesaid reversely folded lower end being so dimensionedas to be received in -the upper end of a similar center ground post of asubjacent socket between said indentations of said subjacent socket witha snap it in order to hold a series of sockets in stacked or superposedrelation, the length of the center post being so related to the lengthof the contact posts that the lower ends of the contact posts arereceived in the holes of the upper wafer of a subjacent socket when thelower end of the center post is received in the upper end of the centerpost of the subjacent socket.

7. As an article of manufacture, a stack of superposed radio tubesockets which are to be used separately when connected in a circuit butwhich are temporarily detachably connected to one another in superposedrelation while awaiting utilization in a circuit, each of said socketsbeing a socket' as dened in claim 1, and the lower end of the centerpost of each socket being received with a snap engagement in the upperportion of the center post of the next subjacent socket.

8. As an article of manufacture, a stack of superposed radio tubesockets which are to be used separately when connected in a circuit butwhich are temporarily detachably connected to one another in superposedrelation while awaiting utilization in a circuit, each of said socketsbeing a socket as defined in claim 2, and the lower end of the centerpost of each socket being received with a snap engagement in the upperportion of the center post of the next subjacent socket.

9. As an article of manufacture, a stack of superposed sockets which areto be used separately when connected in a circuit but which aretemporarily detachably connected to one another in superposed relationwhileawaiting utilization in a circuit, each of said sockets being asocket as dened in claim 3, and the lower end of the center post of eachsocket being received with a snap engagement in the upper portion of thecenter post of the next subjacent socket.

l0. As an article of manufacture, a stack of superposed sockets whichare to be used separately when connected in a circuit but which aretemporarily detachably connected to one another in superposed relationwhile awaiting utilization in a circuit, each of said sockets being asocket as defined in claim 4, and the lower end of the center post ofeach socket being received with a snap engagement in the upper portionof the center post of the next subjacent socket, while the lower ends ofthe contact posts are received in the corresponding holes of thesubjacent socket, thereby maintaining the sockets of the stack indesired relative orientation.

l1. As an article of manufacture, a stack of superposed sockets whichare to be used separately when connected in a circuit but which aretemporarily detachably connected to one another in superposed relationwhile awaiting utilization in a circuit, each of said sockets being asocket as defined in claim 5, and the lower end of the center post ofeach socket being received with a snap engagement in the upper portionof the center post of the next subjacent socket.

l2. As an article of manufacture, a stack of superposed sockets whichare to be used separately when connected in a circuit but which aretemporarily detachably connected to one another in superposed relationwhile awaiting utilization in a circuit, each of said sockets being asocket as defined in claim 6, and the lower end of the center post ofeach socket being received with a snap engagement in the upper portionof the center post of the next subjacent socket, while the lower ends ofthe contact posts are received in the holes of the upper wafer of thesubjacent socket, thereby maintaining the sockets of the stack indesired relative orientation.

Williams Aug. 31, 1948 Carlzen et al. Dec. 2, 1958

